A judge has temporarily denied a request to block Ventura County from interfering with the city of Oxnard's attempt to take over ambulance services.
Ventura County Superior Court Judge Ronda McKaig issued the ruling Friday, noting that Oxnard faces "an uphill battle" establishing its authority to provide ambulance services.
McKaig took the city's request for the court order under submission after a one-hour hearing but did not say when she expected to issue a final determination.
Oxnard's attorney, Andrew Schouten, argued that the city had delegated to the county its authority to provide ambulance service only temporarily, in the early 1970s, and can take it back. But the county's attorney, Lloyd Bookman, said the reversion was no longer possible under a 1980 state law.